​Girl Unaffiliated

There is one quality that I possess that I have had my entire life, which has only strengthened in intensity over time: I am a hard worker. If I don't have something productive to do, I'm bored. And if I'm bored, I'm not happy.

This playlist probably should have come out weeks ago, when I was in the chaotic midst of my internship. But, of course, I'm posting it now instead, in my very last week working in Manhattan.

Tomorrow, I go to work for the last time. The day after, I move out of my funny little apartment and go home to Long Island and my family. A few weeks after that, I go back to school in what is essentially the woods to finish my last year and get my creative writing degree.

It's weird. I don't want to go back to school. I want to stay here, in this city where I never have to Amazon Prime things because everything I could ever want is down the block at the 24 hour corner store. I don't really miss the natural beauty of where I go to school like I thought I might. For one thing, New York City is not as industrial as one might think, and for another, it's so centrally located that an hour long train ride in any direction will transfer you into a totally different world.

I'm coming back as soon as I graduate.

But this post isn't about how much I'm dreading leaving here. It's about hustling, and even though my internship technically ends tomorrow, my work is not over. I have things to write, films to make, jobs to get so that I can live the life I really want to, here, in a year's time.

I may not be where I want to be in a month. But that shouldn't make a difference, and this playlist will definitely help me keep my mind right.

In case you, too, need to remember your priorities in the face of an unpleasant situation, take a listen to the full playlist here.

1. 9 to 5 - Dolly Parton

Tumble outta bedAnd I stumble to the kitchenPour myself a cup of ambitionAnd yawn and stretchAnd try to come to life

2. She Works Hard For The Money - Donna Summer

Already knows, she's seen her bad timesAlready knows, these are the good timesShe'll never sell out, she never willNot for a dollar bill

3. Manic Monday - The Bangles

Have to catch an early trainGot to be to work by nineAnd if I had an aeroplaneI still couldn't make it on time

4. Whistle (While You Work It) - Katy Tiz

Brush, brush, brush it offI will never let this shit weigh me down, weigh me downDon't cry, dry your eyesKeep your chin up and leave it all behind, all behind

5. Run The World (Girls) - Beyoncé

This goes out to all the women, getting it inGet on your grindTo the other men that respect what I doPlease accept my shineBoy I know you love itHow we're smart enough to make these millionsStrong enough to bear the childrenThen get back to business

6. Girl On Fire - Alicia Keys

Everybody stares, as she goes by'Cause they can see the flame that's in her eyesWatch her when she's lighting up the nightNobody knows that she's a lonely girlAnd it's a lonely worldBut she gon' let it burn, baby, burn, baby